Hamburg Area school directors on May 23 approved the 2016-17 proposed final budget of $40,432,255 which includes a .25 mill increase.
Millage would increase to 26.71 from 26.46 and cost the property owner $2,671 in taxes for a property assessed at $100,000, an increase of $25.
Approval of the final budget will take place on June 20.
This would mark the eighth consecutive year that property taxes have increased by .25 mills, a strategy that administrators have used to avoid large increases.
The proposed final budget reflects a deficit of $582,000, a decrease of $62,000 since the May 9 meeting.
A recent change in medical rates to 6.5 percent from 8.5 percent is responsible for the savings, according to business manager Michele Zimmerman.
Zimmerman previously stated that she was confident that the budget would be balanced without reducing staff or cutting programs.
In other news, school directors agreed to award .5 elective credit to students who participate in an international travel program and complete an assigned project..
The trip is scheduled for June 17 to 25 and includes visits to England, Wales and Ireland.
About 50 people, including students, parents, teachers and staff will be part of the district’s first international trip in 17 years, according to Teresa McCarthy, teacher and trip coordinator.
“The cost of the trip is $2,700 for nine days,” McCarthy said. “It includes everything except lunch. We’ll fly directly from Philadelphia to Ireland.”
The trip is facilitated by Education First, a company that specializes in global learning and educational travel.
Payment for the trip can be made through a monthly payment plan.
Superintendent Dr. Richard Mextorf said that he did not want to see any student miss out on this unique experience for financial reasons.
Students can receive financial assistance to help pay for the trip in a number of ways.
“The Hamburg Area Education Foundation can help students with the cost of the trip,” McCarthy said. “Local organizations, such as the Lions Club and Rotary and local businesses help. It adds up.
“There are fundraisers. Students are encouraged to raise their own money.”
Students will pick a topic to investigate on the trip.
“They’ll have first-hand experience to report on,” McCarthy said. “They’ll complete a written or visual report, maybe a power point to earn credit.”
McCarthy said that plans are already in the works for a trip next summer to Italy, France and Spain.
The next meeting of school directors is Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.
